Ryan Howard shares insights on how he leverages artificial intelligence and strategic adaptability to drive business growth and optimization during the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.
Ryan shared insights from his experience working across automotive, marketing, and operations, highlighting how businesses can grow through strategy, adaptability, and effective use of technology.
He currently serves as general manager for Automotive Addiction, Autostrada, and Carbon Club, and works as internet director at Tim Dahle Nissan Southtowne. His background spans sales leadership, finance, digital strategy, and team development, giving him a full-stack perspective on how businesses operate and scale.
Ryan began by reflecting on his upbringing in a small town in Idaho and his early decision to leave college after one year due to rising costs. That decision led him into the automotive sales industry, where he quickly identified a gap in digital marketing expertise within dealerships. Recognizing this opportunity, Ryan began developing his skills in digital strategy and eventually launched Redline Design, focusing on building and scaling high-performing campaigns.
A major focus of Ryan’s lecture was optimization, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence. He explained how AI has become an essential tool in his business, allowing him to “buy back time” by automating repetitive tasks and increasing efficiency. By leveraging AI, Ryan demonstrated how professionals can focus more on high-value work while technology handles time-consuming processes.
Ryan shared practical examples of how he uses AI in his workflow, including building a functional website in a matter of minutes with the help of AI tools. He emphasized that while AI is powerful, its effectiveness depends on how it is used, encouraging students to develop strong prompting skills to get the most value from these technologies.
Throughout the lecture, Ryan reinforced the importance of recognizing opportunities, adapting to industry changes, and continuously improving systems and processes. His message highlighted that success in modern business often comes from combining technical tools with strategic thinking.
The Woodbury School of Business thanks Ryan Howard for sharing his experience and perspective with UVU students. His message reinforced the value of adaptability, efficiency, and leveraging emerging technology to build and grow successful businesses.
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Watch Ryan Howard's full lecture below.
